Everything We Learned About Money Watching '90s Rap Videos as Kids

In the '90s, hip-hopvisuals were noted for their flash. Shepherded in by Puffy, the videos of the Shiny Suit Era were expensive, ostentatious, and at times even gaudy in the way they captured the lifestyles of rap's biggest stars. That is to say, they were reflective of the most popular subject of '90s lyrics: money. If you grew up on BET's Rap City, The Box, etc., chances are most of what you saw and heard about was the paper chase. Here are all the lessons '90s rap videos taught us about dead presidents.

"First you get the money. Then you get the motherfucking power. After you get the fucking power, motherfuckers will respect you."

This is the gospel according to Kim.

The first is the most important day in a given month.

The strip club is the best place to spend it.

You had better not forget ODB's money.

This was the motto to live by...

Until Junior M.A.F.I.A. told us "Fuck bitches—whatcha say?..."

A five spot was all you needed to have on "it."

What C.R.E.A.M. means.

Nas and Ginuwine dealt in other forms of currency if you "owed" them something.